It's a storied and bitter rivalry that dates back decades to when the Dallas Cowboys irritatingly always won their match ups in the 1970s and then the Philadelphia Eagles came back and beat them at Veterans Stadium in the 1980 NFC Championship. For Philadelphia fans, a win against Dallas tastes sweeter than any other victory.

So Thursday evening, the Democratic campaign arm hurled the worst possible insult at Lehigh Valley U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent: That he put the interests of the Dallas Cowboys first.

The Republican-led U.S. House passed a partisan bill that would provide a one-time tax cut to companies with fewer than 500 employees. Republicans said it was essential to job creation. Democrats said it would benefit richer companies and isn't effective because it doesn't require hiring.

In a release, the DCCC wrote "Even though Representative Charlie Dent is supposed to represent Philadelphia area families, he just voted to give a tax break to the rival Dallas Cowboys — without any way to pay for it." The same release went out about U.S. Reps. Patrick Meehan, Jim Gerlach, Mike Fitzpatrick and former Eagles offensive tackle Jon Runyan of New Jersey.

It would be an effective attack -- sports rivalries are not to be taken lightly -- except the bill would also give the same tax break to the Philadelphia Eagles organization. Derek Boyko, spokesman for the Eagles, said they employ about 200 people.

Not the point, said Josh Schwerin, DCCC spokesman, "The point is that they are calling this a small business tax cut and it in fact helps sports teams, Kim Kardashian and Larry Flynt without any way to pay for it," he said.

Collin Long, Dent's spokesman had this to say in response: "The Democrats are under the unfortunate impression the best way to encourage small business growth is to raise T-A-X-E-S, TAXES!"